Vending-machine



No. 6|l,354. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

P. H. BONNER & F. M. PODHASKI. VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed NOV. 22, 1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

K0 In H'WW" I WW TH: nonms rrrzns 00.. PHOTO-unit). WASHINGTON. n. c.

N0. 6II,354. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

P. H. ctmmzn & F. m. PODHASKI. VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Npv. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIJ \I/ar ik fi w IIIIIIIIIIIAvllllllllilllllllllln THE NORRIS Psrzns 00.. PHOTO-Unto.- WASHINGTON, u. c

Paiented Sept. 27, I898.

P. H. BONNER &. M. PODHASKI. VENDiNG MACHINE.

{Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.)

No. 6l|,354.

4 SheetsSheet 3.

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No. 6||,354." Patented Sept. 27, I898. P. H. camera-s. Rm. PODHASKI.

VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1 97.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

lllllitnlvltt II NaZIJfQ P8 0737 THE NORRIS PETERS 90., Pummumm. WASHINGTON, n. c.

PATRICK H. CONNER AND FRANK M. PODHASKI, OF MONTICELLO, IOWA.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,354, dated September 27', 1898. Application filed November 22, 1897. Serial No. 659,461. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PATRI K H. CONNER and FRANK M. PODHASKI, citizens of the United States, residing at Monticello, in the county of Jones and State of Iowa, have in- Vented a new and useful Vending-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to vending-machines,

and has for its object to provide a construc- 1 tion and arrangement of parts adapted for simplifying the operation in a device of the coin-in-the-slot type of obtaining the articles of stock at the will of the purchaser, and,

furthermore, to provide means in connection 1 with the machine embodying our invention whereby the articles of stock may be introduced in the original or commercial package with our invention, the same being particu-' larly adapted for vending cigars or articles of a shape analogous thereto. Fig.2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, taken in the plane of the carrier shaft or spindle. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of. the same to show the coin-controlled operating mechanism. Fig. 4: is a detail vertical section in the plane of the exposed pocket. Fig. 5 is a front view, partly in vertical section, of a machine embodying the essential features of our invention particularly adapted for vending chewing-gum and similar articles. Fig. 6 is a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line 6 G of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isa vertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail View of the operating push-rod detached. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a slightly-modified form of carrier-wheel adapted for containing elongated articles, such as cigars, packages of chewing-gum, and the like. Fig. 10 is a detail section of the rotary disk on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor responding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In a casing l of a suitable shape is mounted a vending or carrier wheel, supported by a shaft or spindle 2, and the rotation of this shaft or spindle to bring the several compartments of the carrier-wheel, hereinafter more fully described, into registration with the delivery-pocket 3 is accomplished by means of coin-controlled operating mechanism consisting in the construction illustrated of a coinwheel 4, provided with a peripheral series of coin-seats 5 and arranged near the lateral outlet-opening 6 of a main coin chute or guide 7. This coinchute or guide is accessible at its upper end through a slot or inlet-opening 8, through which coins,such as nickels, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) may be introduced. The width of the chute or guide 7 is approximately equal to the diameter of the coin which is adopted as the commercial equivalent of one article carried by the stock-Wheel, and in order to prevent coins of smaller size from being introduced operatively into the machine We have provided an auxiliary or discharge chute 9, alined and communicating with the main chute and having an open lower end to allow such coins to pass directly out of the machine without performing the function necessary in order to insure the discharge of an article from the stockwheel. The auxiliary chute 9, being of less width than the main chute 7, forms atits upper end a coin-rest 10, which is in the plane of the lateral discharge-opening 6 of the main chute, and disposed in operative relation with this coin-rest and lateral discharge opening and designed to impel a coin laterally from the rest through said opening is the lower tongue 11 of a pivotal trip 12, said tongue being of such a length as to project into the discharge-opening 6 and push a coin, as shown at 13, from the rest 10 into one of the coinseats 5 'of the wheel 4. Furthermore, this trip is provided at an intermediate point, but below its pivot 14, with a projecting stop 15, which normally projects into the main chute 7 and is there held,in commonwiththe tongue 11, by means of an actuating-spring 16. Thus when a coin is introduced through the slot Sit descends through the main chute until checked by the stop 15, and in order to release the coin from this stop and allow it to drop to the rest 10 we employ a trip-rod 17, preferably provided at its exposed end with a pushbutton 18 and having spaced stop-collars 19, which limit the reciprocatory movement thereof. hen this trip-rod is pushed inwardly, it moves the trip from the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 3 to that indicated in dotted lines, thus releasing the coin from the stop and allowing it to drop to the rest 10, where it is in the path of the succeeding forward movement of the tongue 11. Hence when the trip is released the forward movement of the tongue under the tension of the spring 16 forces the coin into the adjacent registering seat of the coin-wheel.

Mounted preferably for vertical movement in the casing parallel with the coin-chute is a push-rod 20, normally held yieldingly elevated by a spring 21 and having an exposed push-button 22. The path of movement of this push-rod is tangential with relation to the coin-wheel and is so disposed that when a coin is seated in the coin-seat opposite the discharge -opening 6 the depression of the push-rod will cause the engagement thereof with the upper edge of the coin, and thereby impart alimited rotary movement to the coin- Wheel. As the coin-wheel is operatively connected with the stock-wheel, by means hereinafter described, it will be seen that a stepby-step movement may be imparted to the stock-wheel as coins of the proper size are successively introduced to bring different compartments of the stock-wheel into alinement with the delivery-pocket 3, into which they drop for removal by the purchaser.

In the construction in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the spindle 2 is mounted in a bearing in a suitable bracket 23 and is provided with an angular seat or boss 24, upon which the stock-wheel 25 is removably fitted, said stockwheel having a cross sectionally angular socket 26 to receive said boss or seat. The coin-wheel 4 is also provided with a spindle 27, bearing a bevel-pinion 28, which meshes with a gear 29 on the spindle 2.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, however, wherein the illustrated machine is adapted especially for vending chewing-gum and the like, the coin-wheel 4 is provided with a spindle 27, to which the stock wheel orcarrier 25 is directly attached, and in the construction illustrated a plurality of stock-wheels is shown, each being provided with a plurality of compartments 30 for the reception of the vendible articles, and said contents being exposed through a transparent front wall 31 of the casing 1. In this modified construction the push-button 22 on the push-rod 20 is used as a means of operating all of the coin-wheels 4:, said push-rod being provided with a plurality of branches 20", respectively arranged in operative relation with said wheels. In other respects the operating mechanism is identical with that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, inthat it includes a trip 12, actuated by a spring 16 and operating in connection with a main coin chute or guide 7 and an auxiliary chute 9, together with a trip-rod 17 for moving the trip out of its normal position to allow a coin to drop to the coinrest 10.

The machine embodying our invention is particularly designed for vending cigars, and for this purpose we have provided a stock carrier orcontainer consisting of a wheel 31, inclosed within a box 32, said wheel being provided with the above-described socket 26 for the reception of the angular seat or boss 24 of the carrier-spindle, and the bottom of the box being provided with a suitable opening 33 in alinement with said socket to provide for the fitting of the socket upon the end of the spindle. This box is provided with a hinged or swinging cover adapted to be secured in place by means of a revenue-stamp and to be branded in a manner well known to the cigar trade, and in order that the canceled stamp and brand may be exposed to the purchaser while the stock-carrier is arranged within the casing of the machine we preferably construct said cover of sections 34 34, hinged together, as at 35, whereby the exterior surface of one of the sections or leaves may be viewed through a transparent panel 36 in the side of the casing. It will be seen that said lid sections or leaves told with their inner surfaces facing each other, and it is unnecessary to remove the lid or cover from the box when the latter is introduced into the casing of the machine in accordance with revenue laws.

The specific construction of the stockwheel may be varied to suit the particular articles to be vended; but a preferred form of wheel is that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the body portion or disk thereof is of dished or concavo-convex cross-sectional construction, the concave side thereof being provided with a series of alined loops or keepers 37 and 38, disposed, respectively, near the periphery and adjacent to the axis of the disk, whereby the articles, if of the elongated shape shown,are arranged radially. Obviously the outer loops or keepers 37 are arranged in a circular or peripheral series. The box 32 is provided at one side with an outletopening 39, and the box is so arranged in the casing as to bring this opening in alinement with the pocket 3, whereby as the carrier-disk is turned the compartments thereof (consisting of said alined loops or keepers) are brought successively into registration with the opening 39 and the pocket to allow the cigars or other articles to drop radially into the latter.

In Fig. 9 we have shown another modified construction of stock -carrier, wherein the wheel or disk 40 is flat and is provided with upstruck seats forming compartments for vendible articles. In other respects, however, the construction is analogous to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and it will be understood that with both of these forms of stock-carriers the openings in the box or receptacle proper may be covered by the revenue-stamp or other means for preventing the accidental displacement of the contained articles of stock. The conical or dished stockwheel, however, is preferable for the reason that as its axis is arranged horizontally the inclination of the surface of the wheel upon which the cigars rest tends to partly support the cigars, whereby the entire weight thereof is not carried by the side walls of the receptacle. As the open ends of the cigars are arranged outermost, the fiat contact of said ends with the side walls of the receptacle is liable to break or fray them slightly, whereas the inclination of the cigar-rests or the surfaces upon which the cigars rest avoids this disadvantage. Furthermore, the dished construction of stock-wheel causes the cigars to be dropped through the discharge-opening of the casing in an inclined direction, whereby the open ends of the cigars do not strike fiat or perpendicularly against the bottom of the receiving-pocket. In other words, this inclination of the stock-wheel causes the cigars toslide out without injury to either the open end or the wrapper. Also we preferably employ the spaced keepers or staples to hold the cigars upon the concave surface of the stock-wheel, for-the reason that the entire cigar is thereby exposed for the inspection of the purchaser, as will be obvious by reference to Fig. 1.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main coin-chute provided with a lateral outlet, an auxiliary coin-chute alined with the main chute and terminating at its upper end, contiguous to the plane of said outlet of the main chute, in a coin-rest, a movable trip for displacing a coin from the coin-rest and impelling it through said outlet, a coin-wheelhaving seats adapted for successive registration with said outlet, to receive a coin discharged therethrough, and a push-rod mounted for tangential movement with relation to the coin-wheel, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a coin-chute having a lateral outlet and a contiguous coin-rest, a coin-wheel having peripheral seats adapted for successive registration with said outlet, a push-rod for cooperation with a coin fitted in a coinseat of said wheel, a. trip having .a tongue adapted to displace a coin from the coin-rest and discharge it through said lateral outlet,

and means for actuating the trip, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a coin-chute having a lateral outlet and a contiguous coin-rest, a coin-wheel having peripheral seats for successive alinement with said outlet, a push-rod for cooperation with a coin fitted in a coin-seat of said wheel, a pivotal trip having a tongue for operation contiguous to the coin-rest, and adapted to displace a coin therefrom and discharge it through said outlet, yielding means for normally maintaining the tongue in all-extended position spanning the chute, and aterminallyexposed push-rod for actuating the trip, substantially as specified.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a coin-chute having a lateral outlet and a contiguous coin-rest, a coinwheel having peripheral coin-seats adapted for successive registration with said outlet, and a push-rod for cooperation with a coin fitted in a coin-seat in said wheel, of a springactuated trip having a tongue for displacing a coin from the coin-rest and discharging it through said lateral outlet, and also provided with a stop which is normally held in the path of a coin descending through the chute, and exposed means for moving the trip in opposition to its actuating-spring, substantially as specified.

5. A vendingmachine having a rotary stock wheel provided with compartments adapted to be arranged respectively in registration with an exposed delivery-pocket, a rotary coin-wheel operatively connected wit-h said stock-wheel and having a peripheral series of open-sided coin-seats, a coin-chute having an outlet with which said coin-seats are adapted to register successively, a pushrod mounted parallel with a tangent of the coin-wheel, and between said wheel and the coin-chute, a trip for discharging a coin from.

the coin-chute into the registering seat of the coin-wheel in the path of said push-rod, and for yieldingly maintaining the coin in said seat, yielding means for actuating the trip, and a terminally-exposed push-rod for term porarily withdrawing the trip from the path of a coin descending through the chute, substantially as specified.

6. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing, and coin-controlled operating mechanism, of a stock-carrier having a conically-dished rotary disk provided on its concave side with radial compartments or seats for articles of stock, adapted to be arranged successively in registration with an outlet opening of the casing, said stock-carrier being operatively connected with the coin-controlled mechanism, substantially as specified.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing and coin-controlled operating mechanism, of a stock-carrier'having a conically-dished rotary disk, connnected with said operating mechanism, and provided on its concave surface with outer and inner series of radially-alined keepers adapted for successive registration with an outlet-opening of the casing, substantially as specified.

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing and coin-controlled operating mechanism, of a stock-carrier having a rotary disk detachably connected with said operating mechanism, and provided with an inclosing lid-fitted receptacle,substantially as specified.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing, and coin-controlled operating mechanism including a rotary spindle, of a stock-carrier having a rotary disk removably fitted upon said spindle, and provided with an inclosing lid-fitted box or receptacle, sub stantially as specified.

10. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing, and coin-controlled operating mechanism including a rotary spindle, of a stock-carrier having a rotary disk removably fitted upon said spindle, and a permanentlyinclosing box in which said disk is mounted for rotation, and which is provided with a permanently-attached lid or cover, substantially as specified.

11. In a vending-machine, the combination With a casing, having a side transparent panel, a spindle, and coin-controlled mechanism for operating the spindle, of a stock-carrier having a rotary disk removably fitted upon said I spindle, and provided with compartments for successive registration with an exposed delivery-pocket, and a box permanently inclosing said disk and provided with a sectional folding cover for arrangement parallel with a side wall of the casing, for exterior exposure through said transparent panel, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK H. OONNER. FRANK M. PODHASKI. Witnesses:

WILLIAM PODHASKI, ALVA CONWAY. 

